Assessment of the role of manganese in congenital joint laxity and dwarfism in calves.
Pregnant beef cows were winter-fed (November 15 to calving) hay (24 cows), red clover silage (21 cows) or grass silage (52 cows). Blood samples were taken from each cow in December and February. A condition of congenital joint laxity and dwarfism was observed in 38% and 28% of calves born to cows fed red clover silage and grass silage, respectively. None of the calves born to hay-fed cows were affected by the condition. The congenital joint laxity and dwarfism was associated with a lower serum manganese concentration in silage-fed cows than in hay-fed cows. However, manganese concentrations were similar in red clover silage, grass silage and in hay. A lower bioavailability of manganese in silages other than in hay, resulting in an apparent manganese deficiency in silage-fed cows, is suggested as a possible factor contributing to the etiology of congenital joint laxity and dwarfism in calves.
Hidiroglou
M
M
Animal Research Centre, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
Ivan
M
M
Bryan
M K
MK
Ribble
C S
CS
Janzen
E D
ED
Proulx
J G
JG
Elliot
J I
JI
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000151:congenital* / Q000209:etiology; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007887:Fabaceae; D005260:Female; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008345:Manganese / Q000172:deficiency*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D006109:Poaceae; D011247:Pregnancy; D012820:Silage
D008345:Manganese